Poignant final tribute to Crawley's '˜singing bus driver'

Bob Goodman (pictured) worked for many years as a driver for Metrobus in and around Crawley where he entertained travellers with his singing en route.

And next week a touching accolade will be made to Bob - who died at St Catherine’s Hospice on November 25, aged 59 - at his funeral.

One of Bob’s own compositions - ‘Angels’ - is to be played at the service.

Bob wrote the song for his long-term partner Carol Burton who said this week: “He had no formal musical training, but he was just so talented. He was my best friend. He was just a kind, lovely man.”

And, she added:“He used to sing to everybody when he was driving.”

Bob, a former soldier, wrote much of his own music and peformed at many clubs and bars as part of a duo known as Black Ice. He was also keen on karaoke.

In later years, and facing ill-health, Bob’s musical tastes branched from ballads to jazz music.

He was a talented lyricist. Said Carol: “His forte was if you gave him a piece of music, he would put words to it.”

Sadly, ill-health prevented Bob from performing in recent years. “Bob had end stage heart failure and kidney failure,” said Carol. “It was hereditary. He lost his aunt to the same thing in April and his mum also died from it.”

Bob, who served in the army in the 1st Battalion of the Queens Regiment for many years, leaves his partner Carol, step daughter Sam, stepsons Aaron and Daley, four grandchildren, his brothers and 
sisters and nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held on Monday December 14 at 2.15pm in St Richard’s Chapel at the Surrey and Sussex Crematorium.